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Sympathizing With the Radical Right : Effects of Mainstream Party Recognition and Control of Prejudice

Ekholm, Kalle LU ; Bäck, Hanna LU orcid and Renström, Emma A. LU (2022) In Journal of Social and Political Psychology 10(1). p.141-157
Abstract

The electoral success of radical right parties throughout Western Europe is the biggest change to these formerly stable party systems. Several studies have identified that mainstream parties can shape the trajectory of radical right parties. Our aim is to contribute to this literature, and to investigate if and how radical right parties gain from mainstream party recognition. Theoretically, we draw on the literature that has suggested that when aiming to explain the legitimization of radical right parties, we need to consider that many individuals in Western Europe are influenced by an anti-prejudice norm when forming preferences towards such parties. We hypothesize that when mainstream parties signal that it is acceptable to associate... (More)

The electoral success of radical right parties throughout Western Europe is the biggest change to these formerly stable party systems. Several studies have identified that mainstream parties can shape the trajectory of radical right parties. Our aim is to contribute to this literature, and to investigate if and how radical right parties gain from mainstream party recognition. Theoretically, we draw on the literature that has suggested that when aiming to explain the legitimization of radical right parties, we need to consider that many individuals in Western Europe are influenced by an anti-prejudice norm when forming preferences towards such parties. We hypothesize that when mainstream parties signal that it is acceptable to associate with radical right parties’ they challenge the anti-prejudice norm that dissuade voters from such parties. In addition, individuals with lower internal motivation to control prejudice (IMCP) are more susceptible to be affected by mainstream party recognition of radical right parties as those with high IMCP have a stronger internalized anti-prejudice norm. We evaluate the effects of changes in the normative context in a survey experiment (N = 1133) by manipulating mainstream party legitimization of a radical right party, the Sweden Democrats, before the Swedish parliamentary election in 2018. Our results suggest that when mainstream parties challenge the anti-prejudice norm, individuals are more likely to sympathize with radical right parties. Moreover, the effect of mainstream party recognition is moderated by IMCP – individuals with a low motivation to appear non-prejudiced are more influenced by mainstream party legitimization of a radical right party.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
legitimization, mainstream parties, norms, prejudice, radical right parties
in
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
volume
10
issue
1
pages
17 pages
publisher
PsychOpen
external identifiers
  • scopus:85136121977
ISSN
2195-3325
DOI
10.5964/jspp.9235
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b907d725-6770-4421-964a-bca2d0cb0ae6
date added to LUP
2022-09-08 12:16:38
date last changed
2024-02-13 17:37:01
@article{b907d725-6770-4421-964a-bca2d0cb0ae6,
  abstract     = {{<p>The electoral success of radical right parties throughout Western Europe is the biggest change to these formerly stable party systems. Several studies have identified that mainstream parties can shape the trajectory of radical right parties. Our aim is to contribute to this literature, and to investigate if and how radical right parties gain from mainstream party recognition. Theoretically, we draw on the literature that has suggested that when aiming to explain the legitimization of radical right parties, we need to consider that many individuals in Western Europe are influenced by an anti-prejudice norm when forming preferences towards such parties. We hypothesize that when mainstream parties signal that it is acceptable to associate with radical right parties’ they challenge the anti-prejudice norm that dissuade voters from such parties. In addition, individuals with lower internal motivation to control prejudice (IMCP) are more susceptible to be affected by mainstream party recognition of radical right parties as those with high IMCP have a stronger internalized anti-prejudice norm. We evaluate the effects of changes in the normative context in a survey experiment (N = 1133) by manipulating mainstream party legitimization of a radical right party, the Sweden Democrats, before the Swedish parliamentary election in 2018. Our results suggest that when mainstream parties challenge the anti-prejudice norm, individuals are more likely to sympathize with radical right parties. Moreover, the effect of mainstream party recognition is moderated by IMCP – individuals with a low motivation to appear non-prejudiced are more influenced by mainstream party legitimization of a radical right party.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ekholm, Kalle and Bäck, Hanna and Renström, Emma A.}},
  issn         = {{2195-3325}},
  keywords     = {{legitimization; mainstream parties; norms; prejudice; radical right parties}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{141--157}},
  publisher    = {{PsychOpen}},
  series       = {{Journal of Social and Political Psychology}},
  title        = {{Sympathizing With the Radical Right : Effects of Mainstream Party Recognition and Control of Prejudice}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5964/jspp.9235}},
  doi          = {{10.5964/jspp.9235}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}